By Grockle
October 28 2004

My machine is still silent but you can't keep a good Grockle down so here is some AGM highlights. Interesting stuff too....especially from Mr Kerslake!.....Enjoy Taunton AGM

40 ish people and Giles what more could you want. Roy Kerslake was there as well and Mr Nash (The commercial one). The Taunton area gave KP £10K so well done to them. It seems that the North Somerset AGM was a bit stormy. We'll have to see how this one goes.

The minutes of last year were like deja vu. Same questions, some still unanswered. No CE (family reasons) and no Head Coach (both here last year).

It started stroppy with questions concerning 'freeby' tickets, especially regarding the Welsh! This season has been a 'disappointment' so we had the rallying cry from Tim Salter and then we had the main show.

Giles reminded us that we are the poorest county in the CC. We will show a profit this year (rumour 1 scotched). There are no plans to reduce the counties. The power of the ECB is going to be diluted and it will be to our benefit. The issue for the club is to be economically strong. The shlrts will have 'Somerset ' on them because "Sabres" means 'nothing to the county'.

The Crlcket Panel (Vic Marks, Brian Rose and Roy Kerslake) are now responsible for crlcket.

Roy then gave us some stuff. Mention of Matt Wood and James Hildreth offered future promise. We have a good youth system. The Academy's success will be gauged by their progress. We will be looking to slgn 2 overseas players, one as captain, and build the rest internally. No domestic signings expected. Graham Smith is our first choice as captain (from mid May which would fit well with Ponting). Others? Jimmy Mahr, Gangulay etc.

Coaching? Maybe a statment in the next couple of weeks. Its still ongoing Kevin was not mentioned all evening. He's looking at the selection policy, health policy etc. Everything seems to be up for debate. All contracts have been accepted except Dutch who is considering his future and may leave playing altogether but the door has been left open should he want to consider taking up the contract. Rob Turner is four day and KP's is a full one with 2nd team skippering when not playing for the Firsts to help suport the younger players and bring them on.

Nashy says we're having a new kit which may not be marroon! New image, new world at Taunton. It is all designed to give us what we need while increasing income.

The following questions were then put forward ;

The Proms were a disaster - we'll do it better.

PA's letter (I haven't seen it myself) was not approved one section was very poor. Giles wasn't happy.

Is Ganguly a good alternative to Smith. Isn't he too elitlst.

The other overseas player we are looking at is another South African who may break into the Test side this winter. Alby Morkel? This would probably be based on Mr Smith arriving .

Club policy is going to be "play the young" categorically

Chris Ondataaje seems to have been offended. Is that the case? No. He was well aware and has now been repalid. His departure was nothing to do with the redevelopment.

Boundary Sports influence in the shop will decrease. It can do a lot better. Negotiations are nearly done and the emphasis will be on goods for a Somerset clientle.

"We are not customer friendly" but we are working on all aspects in the off season.

So we got a lot of what we wanted to know. A lot of radical statements about a new future were made and the general message was that things have to get better. Not lots of money but a great deal of mouth that needs to turn into reality! Watch this space!